ECCO Meeting Minutes from May 5, 2011

ECCO Meeting Minutes for

May 5th, 2011

ECCO Meeting Minutes for May 5th, 2011

Meetings are held at St. Mary’s Greek Orthodox Church at 7:00

Minutes submitted by Katherine St. Martin

Attendance

Board members: Nancy Ward (President), Sarah Sponheim (Vice President), Katherine St. Martin (Secretary), Tim Norkus-Crampton, Heather Wulfsberg, Brad Durham, Blake Harper, Judy Shields, Linda Todd, Gael Ellis

 Monica Smith (NRP), Meg Tuthill (City Council Representative)

Alex Gehrig (Minnehaha Creek Watershed District) 218-251-1462, alexg@minnesotawaters.org, Michael Shields (presenting ECCO Board Insurance Information) and several community residents were in attendance.

Minutes from April 7th Meeting approved

Announcements

- Bakken Museum Garden Party, May 19, 2011 5:30-7:30pm: The Bakken Museum in partnership with the Uptown Association are throwing a summer garden party at the Bakken Museum of Electricity and Magnetism.  RSVP preferably before May 13^th on the Uptown Association’s website.

-NRP Policy Board is gauging interest in Community Board participation walking in the Aquatennial on July 20^th to celebrate 20 years of NRP work.  Nancy asked whether the board is interested in walking in the parade.  Interest is currently low due to ECCO board’s other Aquatennial plans.

Alex Gehrig (Minnehaha Creek Watershed District)

Alex explained that the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District is a local unit of government that manages and protects the water resources in the 181 square miles that drains to Lake Minnetonka, the Minneapolis Chain of Lakes, and the Minnehaha Creek.  Our community is directly connected to this Watershed District because of our link to the Chain of Lakes; Alex offers our community a variety of opportunities. 

1. The first opportunity is to enlist Alex’s help in creating a Lake Calhoun Association that would be eligible for clean water cost share grant programs.  This kind of an association would create a lake plan to manage stormwater runoff, native plantings on shorelines and streambanks and use stormwater best management practices.
2. Alex can also coordinate workshops for the community on any clean water related topic such as creating rain gardens and utilizing pervious pavement. 

Judy and Michael Shields (ECCO Board member and husband)

Judy and Michael were asked by the Board to research a more affordable and stable manner for insuring the ECCO Board.  Insurance coverage is a community board requirement. Judy and Michael found that NRP offers Directors and Officers insurance to neighborhoods and can also provide an affordable “Master Plan” that covers general liability coverage in which the limits are shared by ECCO and 13 other neighborhoods who share the contract.  Renewing through this program would total approximately $300 dollars (half as much as last years total) and be an affordable option for this required coverage.  Nancy and the whole Board thanked them both for doing the legwork to get ECCO listed under the standard “Master Plan.” 

Meg Tuthill (City Council Representative)  

1. 1.   Bike Project Updates. Nice Ride was given significant money for expansion into downtown St. Paul and along University Ave. The City is in the process of determining the low bidder for the Bryant Bike Boulevard and the 1st & Blaisdell bike lane projects.  Construction of the Midtown Greenway bridge over Lake of the Isles has begun. 
2. The 5^th Precinct is holding an open house on May 19^th. The precinct station is located at 3101 Nicollet Avenue South, at the intersection of West 31st Street and Nicollet Avenue South, one block south of Lake Street, Minneapolis, MN 55408, 612-673-5705, FAX 612-370-3879.
3. Preserve Minneapolis is dedicated to improving the quality of life in Minneapolis by recognizing, preserving, and revitalizing the architectural and related cultural resources of the city of Minneapolis.  They provide free Minneapolis themed tours of the city led by local historians: http://www.preserveminneapolis.org/community_tours.php
4. Despite Minneapolis city leader opposition, at the state legislature, a bill to reverse action the city took to seize the Neighborhood Revitalization Program funds will now go to the floor of the House and Senate for a vote.  Minneapolis city leaders decided to end the NRP and replace it with the Neighborhood & Community Relations department in order to apply $10 million of NRP funds to the city's 2011 budget shortfall.  Meg was personally opposed to the state legislature’s action because she felt that the state government had no place overturning Minneapolis City Budget decisions.
5. Brad asked Meg whether the Mayor and City Council had a plan to return the property taxes in the 10^th Ward to sustainable levels.  Meg replied that did not have a chance to personally discuss the topic with the Mayor last month but that the Mayor was presenting a series of Property Tax Talks across the Metro area and that these would be a good opportunity to voice his concerns.
6. Nancy asked Meg what her position was on the continuing deposit of toxins from City of Minneapolis garbage going to the Hennepin Energy Resource Co. (HERC).  Located in downtown Minneapolis, the HERC facility uses mass burn technology to convert 365,000 tons of garbage a year into electricity. Covanta Energy Company applied to increase garbage incineration by 20%, from 1,000 tons to 1,212 tons per day of mixed solid waste (half of which is currently recyclable/compostable). The plume of heavy metals, dioxin and particulates has not been monitored since 1986.  The Planning Commission denied the permit on public health grounds, but Covanta, is appealing the Planning Commission's Denial of a Conditional Use Permit to do this.  The issue has been postponed, but may be at public hearing soon.  Nancy asked whether Meg would support an EPA assessment for the HERC, which hasn’t been conducted since 1986.  Meg expressed her support of this idea but encouraged the community to also push this idea at the Hennepin County elected officials as well.  Sarah expressed that the County seemed intractable on the matter because the County’s position was synonymous with Covanta Energy’s position.  Meg persisted that the County officials are also elected and because the HERC involves Hennepin County, it is important for those County members to hear this concern voiced.  Commissioner Peter McLaughlin, 4th District, sits on the Solid Waste Management Board and can be e-mailed at commissioner.mclaughlin@co.hennepin.mn.us
7. Zoning Updates.  Meg announced that Amore Victoria had received their approval for the rooftop patio (with City conditions).  She also mentioned that a new pizza restaurant is planned for the space between TCF Bank and FedEx on Lake Street will apply to the City for a permit to stay open until 3am. She noted that although there is already a precedent for this kind of permit, Inspector Matt Clark of the Minneapolis Police Department's 5th does require businesses who stay open that late to provide a detailed security plan.
8. As always, you can contact Meg’s office at 612-673-2210 or meg.tuthill@ci.minneapolis.mn.us.

Committee Reports:

Environmental “Green Team” Report

Sarah announced that progress was being made by the Waste Watchers group with an ad in the UNN as well as the creation of a web page on the East Calhoun website.  She also mentioned that there would be a Recycling and Composting workshop located at St. Mary’s Church on June 11^th.  For more information, click on the Waste Watchers logo on the East Calhoun website.

Hennepin County is conducting its second Medicine Collection Event. This is an opportunity to properly dispose of prescription medications as well as vitamins and supplements.  The collection point will be Richfield Ice Area east entrance on Thursday June 2^nd, 3-7pm.  Sarah is willing to consolidate neighbors’ medicines and drive them over.  Contact her for more information. The City will also be conducting another Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event. Check out the City’s website for more information on the dates and times: http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/solid-waste/garbage-hazardous.asp

Sarah pointed us to the Minneapolis Greenprint publication as a guide for sustainable development and ecologically friendly practices in the City of Minneapolis. The Greenprint provides a pragmatic framework for protecting and enhancing our environment based around key environmental indicators. For detailed information on each of these environmental indicators see:  http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/sustainability/MinneapolisGreenprin...

Sarah also announced that Ralph Sievert, Director or Forestry for Minneapolis Park Board and Scott Henke (local arborist) will facilitate the discussion at next Board meeting, which will discuss the community concerns surrounding the treatment method versus gradual replacement of Ash trees in the neighborhood.

Zoning Committee

Heather confirmed that the Amore Victoria rooftop patio would be operating until 10pm Sunday through Thursday and staying open until 11pm on Friday and Saturday nights.  The only other condition that was adjusted from the conditions mentioned during the April meeting minutes was the addition of a rooftop level screen on the West end of the building as well.

Heather coordinated for the owners of the new pizza restaurant to give a quick question and answer session at the June meeting as well.  She closed by expressing her thanks to Board member, Jim, a new member of the Zoning committee, for his recent contributions.

Safety Committee

Nancy opened by referencing the recent Crime Alerts for the garage burglary and car theft in the 3200 block of Holmes.  She encouraged community members to be alert and demonstrate a presence in the community.  She suggested coordinating a safety walker group but there wasn’t enough consensus between board members time schedules to coordinate the effort.  Board members did say they would begin walking the alleys specifically and spreading the word to pay attention for any suspicious behavior.  Monica works with local police point of contact to send out helpful Crime Alerts to everyone on the ECCO e-mail list to promote rapid awareness of safety issues in the neighborhood. Go to the East Calhoun Community webpage to join the e-blast.

Social Committee

Judy presented the Social Committee announcements. 

May 16: Neighborhood Potluck with a “Spring into Fun” theme at Lake Calhoun with fun activities (bocce ball, Frisbee, hula hoop, egg toss)

June 5^th: The Super Sale is the first Saturday in June.  See the ad in the UNN.

July 17: Gael is researching the Aquatennial Milk Carton Boat Race and promoting a neighborhood event to build and register our boat.  Gael presented the Aquatennial Milk Carton Boat Race as an opportunity for the community to collaborate on an East Calhoun boat with a Green Team Waste Watchers theme.  Blake offered his garage as an assembly area and Sarah offered to contact a neighbor for potential design ideas.  Gael emphasized that May was the design phase followed by a build phase in June where we could collect building materials (milk cartons, etc). 

The Board unanimously agreed to participate in the Wine tasting fundraiser again this year due to its great success as a community event as well as a major source of budget revenue for the neighborhood.  Brad and Judy both agreed to work as ECCO lead coordinators for our community organization.

Nancy and Judy both emphasized that anyone can participate in the Social Committee activities and meetings and that they are soliciting ideas for social events for future months. 

NRP Committee

Monica made several announcements concerning ongoing NRP opportunities:

CES home energy visits are still available.  ECCO is still maintaining a slight lead for community participation.  In order to receive a home energy conservation consolation with CES, households must attend a CES workshop.  Workshop times and locations are available through www.mnces.org.

There is still an opportunity to apply for Phase II housing grant and loan programs. The Matching Grant Program features a matching grant of 25% NRP funds to 75% homeowner funds, with a maximum grant of $3,000. There are no income limits.  The Low Interest Loan program offers 4% fixed rate loans with flexible terms with a maximum loan of $7,500. Household income limits apply.  For more information, please go to the NRP section of our website: www.eastcalhoun.org.

Monica presented several East Calhoun neighborhood sign designs by resident Ken Ushio.  These signs would replace the current ECCO signs posted at the entrances to our community, which are aging through general weathering and graffiti.  The board made several edits to the sign designs and decided to vote via e-mail between meetings in order to give Ken a chance to respond to the edits.  The Board thanks Ken for his generous time with our community signs.  Monica noted that the City now charges for the labor of posting the signs.  If the current budget des not allow enough money to order and post all 22 planned signs, some would be stored as spares in case of damage or graffiti in the future.

Linda Todd gave a summary of the Neighborhood Community Engagement Committee (NCEC) meeting that she attended. NCEC falls under the City’s new Neighborhood & Community Relations department, which is the replacement for NRP.  Linda reported that the NCEC meeting was essentially a cacophony of neighborhood interests vying for a voice while also arguing that the forum itself is a non-functional entity largely expected to concur with the City council’s pre allocated resources and agenda.  The next meeting will be an election to select four “Commissioners” from among the neighborhoods who will actually sit on the NCEC board. We are responsible for appointing an elector (to vote on the Commissioner positions) and an alternate elector.

The Board unanimously moved to nominate Blake Harper as the primary elector and Linda Todd as the secondary elector at the upcoming NCEC election meeting. 

Linda also announced that the Uptown Neighborhood News (UNN) reached 16 color pages last month!

Meeting adjourned.

Next ECCO Meeting will be held on June 2nd 2011 at 7 pm inside St. Mary’s Greek Orthodox Church.